Page 43 of Ace's Ascension

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ace

The bell dings and the two assholes advance on me. Like before, Steven tries to sneak up behind me, while Anthony tries to distract me. But unlike last time, I’m a lot stronger and a lot quicker than these two pedophiles. My elbow lands in Steven’s solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him. I hear a grunt as he backs up. Moving my body, I’m facing both Steven and Anthony with the cage at my back. I know Kayne and Blayde are out there in the crowd, watching my back, so I’m not worried but I keep alert in case someone sneaks by him.

Anthony’s fist swings toward my face, but I duck at the last second to avoid his blow. Steven’s knee comes up at the same time I duck, and I can’t move out of his way fast enough. It connects with my chest but doesn’t do much damage. I kick out with my left foot, connecting with Steven’s chest again and the blow staggers him back a few steps. I swing with my right fist, connecting with Anthony’s face, but not before he gets in a good hit to my ear, making it ring.

Together, they advance on me again, like they did when I was younger and a flashback of how they held me down assaults my mind. I was weak and vulnerable then. They pin me to the mat, face down as one punches me in the head and the other kicks my stomach. I try to get up, but one puts their boot on my back, forcing me to stay down. They kick and punch until my body is bruised and bloody.

“Does this look familiar, Steven?” Anthony hisses in my ear.

“Oh, yeah, Anthony. I remember that little sweet virgin ass.” Steven’s hot breath hits the side of my face and rage builds inside of me.

I let the darkness take over, but something is holding me back from grabbing ahold of it fully.

“GET UP, ACE!” I hear Liz’s voice shout through the crowd. “GET YOUR ASS UP NOW!”

How is she down here? Is she in danger? I thought she was locked in the room above me. My eyes drift up to where Liz and Poison are supposed to be, but I can’t see them through the tint.

“GET UP, ACE!” Liz screams and it’s coming from directly in front of me. I see my Sweet Cheeks, my dark Voodoo princess with her bright blue eyes, pleading with me to fight back. Her fingers wrap around the links and she leans in close. “Get up and fight, Justin. I need you to fight.” Her voice cracks and tears roll down her cheeks. “I need you with me. I love you.”

I close my eyes and channel everything I have inside of me. I tap into the darkness lurking under my skin. My skin is vibrating from pent-up hatred toward these two men. How they ruined my childhood and almost ruined my life. I will not let them ruin me anymore.

With a loud snarl, I push with everything I have, knocking Anthony over. Steven looks stunned so I attack him first. I wrap my arms around his middle and plow him into the cage. I grip his neck with my taped hands and squeeze until he’s tapping meon the arm. I squeeze tighter and fling him to the ground toward Anthony.

“I’m not done yet, motherfuckers.” I hit my stride and attack both of them at the same time. My right fist lands directly into Anthony’s face, shattering his nose. He goes down painfully clutching it.

Steven tries to take my legs out from under me, but I dodge it at the last second and jump into the air. When I land, My fist rains down a deadly blow to his throat, crushing his windpipe. Steven gasps for air with no success. With him out of commission, I can go after the leader, the one who starred in my nightmares all those years ago. I should play with him, but I’m ready to get this over with.

Anthony spots me coming for him and he tries to wrap his arms around my waist to slow me down. When he connects with my body, I grab him by the head and spin him around, so his back is to my chest. My arms lock around his neck and I squeeze.

“Say goodbye motherfucker. You will never hurt another boy again.” I adjust my hold on his neck with my hands and twist until I hear a crack vibrate up my arms. Anthony’s body falls forward, his cold, dark eyes staring into the crowd, not seeing anything.

The crowd goes crazy, thirsting for more. Steven is still alive, trying to breathe with his hand around his throat. “END HIM! END HIM! END HIM!” The spectators chant with every beat of my heart.

I approach Steven and look into the crowd, getting them riled up. With one final vicious roar from my lips, I drive my fist into Steven’s face, shoving his nose into his brain. Blood sprays everywhere and he collapses on the mat.

The bell dings and the doors open, allowing me out. My breathing is ragged and harsh as I step from the ring straightinto my woman’s arms. Even though I’m covered in blood, sweat and spit, Liz still flings herself at me and I hold on tight.

“Did you mean it?” I ask, my breath fanning across Liz’s ear.

She pulls her head back to stare into my eyes. “Every word. I love you, Ace.”

“I love you, too.” My lips descend on Liz’s and I kiss her like she’s my air. My last breath.

I pull my lips from her and we are ushered into the locker room with Stone leading the way, Blayde and Rooster trailing behind us and Seth’s men circling us. I don’t know if what I did tonight will change the outcome of what Savage Saints is trying to move into by helping those who have been wrong, and the law can’t do anything about it, but if it does, I hope it moves us in the right direction.

Stone opens my door and Liz and I enter. He shuts it on us, leaving Liz and I alone for the first time since before Church.

I wrap my arms around Liz’s shoulders and pull her against me. Images of us together the last time we were in here assault me and I harden in my shorts. I press Liz against my growing erection and kiss her hard.

“Say it again,” Liz’s husky voice breathes against my lips.

“I love you, Elizabeth Madeline-Rose LeRoux.” My voice is a whisper in the wind.

“Je t’aime gros, mon beau.” Liz smiles at me.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I ask, amused.

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